Veronica had lusted after—and loved—Mark for years.
Not a fleeting crush, not some harmless workplace infatuation. But a deep, all-consuming desire that has only intensified with time.
Ten years ago, she’d made a choice: to step away, work on herself, and transform into the kind of woman she was sure he’d want. She poured herself into becoming leaner, more polished, more magnetic. She'd crafted herself—body and image alike—into what she believed was his ideal.
Sure, she’d known Mark wasn’t a fan of marriage. He’d said it more than once: too permanent, too messy, too traditional. But Veronica had been confident she could change his mind. Given time, she believed he’d come around.
So when she returned—after a decade of self-grooming, sacrifice, and scorched-earth ambition—to find that Ma
